Why Wild, Free Range, Organic, and Kosher?

Caution–this is not a feel good article, but we need to know and expose the truth about our food that comes from animals.  I recently got some flack for offering "kosher" meats as part of the MY DIVA DIET system.  Since "there is a method to my madness", I want to take a moment to explain–why 

wild, free-range, organic and kosher (animal protein)?  

“Humans were meant to be stewards over animals, but today we have truly abused that privilege. There is nothing worse than intentional misuse of power and authority.  Americans have lost their consciences and replaced them with greed and gluttony, made worse by laziness.”

Food from Animals

Here are some things to think about when considering eating beef, poultry, and fish: WARNING:  It must be noted, in viewing and researching this information, it was very unsettling, it made me very angry, I wept for many days after, and to date it affects me deeply!  But it inspired me to do my part!  

#1 Cattle are raised in deplorable conditions and horrifically slaughtered. And while dairy farms may not kill their animals, they do inject their cows with hormones and antibiotics with no regard for the cow or the quality of the product they are making. 

#2 The plight of chickens is no better than that of cows. Chickens are often debeaked and stuffed into cramped cages, where they are forced to live out their lives never experiencing freedom. Their feet grow into and around the bottoms of their wire cages, instead of scratching in the dirt and looking for food the way free-range chickens do. Are they killed any more humanely than the cows?

#3 There are also “farm-raised” fish! Do they get a break? Can the fish “farmers” possibly emulate the natural environment to which the fish have adapted over time, or provide for the needs of the fish as well as nature would? What about pollutants and other harmful factors? And, are our fishing methods humane? When a proud or less-experienced fisherman wants a photograph before he “catches and releases”, does the fish suffer? 

#4 The way an animal is raised is not the only factor affecting the meat on the tables of millions of Americans. Mass-produced cattle, chickens, and pigs are not being fed quality food. Some are able to exercise and feed on grass, but most live in close, cramped environments and when food supplies run low they are forced to eat their own manure, and sometimes even their own young. 

#5 The method of slaughter, if done improperly, distresses the animal and can affect the meat you eat. This phenomenon is called “fight or flight”, and it involves the response that occurs in moments of genuine fear. True animal lovers can empathize with this idea. The adrenaline produced by the animal during its final moments of fear actually ends up in the blood stream, affecting the meat.  

Then there are these stories (even though MY DIVA DIET does not advocate eating pork or horse)--just an FYI!  

#6.  I recently viewed a documentary on HBO called "Death On A Factory Farm", about a hog farm and their cruetly to the animals and the dispicable way in which they killed them!  

Each year, 10 billion animals are raised for consumption in the U.S., mostly on sprawling, industrialized farms, where virtually no federal laws mandate how the animals are treated - though guidelines exist - and state laws are ineffective. As a result, animals are frequently subjected to what many consider cruel treatment and inhumane conditions in the interest of economic efficiency. DEATH ON A FACTORY FARM chronicles an investigation into alleged abuses that took place at a hog farm in Creston, Ohio. This shocking documentary is produced by Tom Simon (a seven-time Emmy® winner) and Sarah Teale, producer of the 2006 HBO special “Dealing Dogs,” which received two Emmy® nominations, including Best Documentary.

#7 Even after earning hundreds of thousands of dollars for their owners, American champion racehorses that can no longer race or win are sold to slaughter houses at rock-bottom prices. These former athletes are sold to the “meat man”, then sent off to a “livestock auction” and to their final destination, a “kill pen”. They are killed, sometimes more inhumanely than cows and chickens, and then shipped to Japan and Europe as food for human consumption or as pet food. 
*This is from a segment I watched on HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumble a few years ago. To learn more check out this article, "Prices Soaring for Unwanted Horses"!

“At MY DIVA DIET, we can see why anyone would become a vegetarian–we have even considered it from time to time. However, know that if an animal is raised, slaughtered, and processed the proper way, the meat is good for you.”

When choosing your protein from animal sources--GO Wild, Free Range, Organic and Kosher!  

Facts on Wild vs. Farm-Raised Fish:
Not only do farm-raised fish lack the health benefits of wild fish, but they are also more likely to get sick. Farm-raised fish are fed concentrated protein pellets instead of their natural diet. This feed seems to contaminate the fish, and they contain higher levels of toxins (PCBs, dioxin, etc.) than wild fish. Farm-raised fish are also fatter, and these chemicals are stored in the fatty tissue. Some farm-raised fish are processed inhumanely. First, they are sedated with clove oil that is poured into the water. Then, carbon dioxide is added until their brain functions cease but their hearts continue to beat. Finally, their gills are cut so they bleed out

 and they are gilled, gutted, and then processed.

Facts on Free-Range Livestock (cage-free cattle, pigs and poultry):

Free-range means that the animals are able to move and feed at will, not confined in a battery or a pen. Whether poultry, eggs, or beef, free-range livestock should meet these criteria:

• No antibiotics
  
• No hormones
  
• No pesticides or herbicides used in the soil or feed
  
• No artificial ingredients
  

Other Facts on Organic Foods and Free-range Foods:

Free-range beef has a lower overall fat content because the cattle exercise. They are also free of pesticides, herbicides from their feedlot, antibiotics, and hormones.

Organic, free-range chickens are raised primarily on grains and grasses, and are kept free of hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, and herbicides. They are significantly lower in fat than chickens raised in “chicken factories”, and also produce eggs with higher nutritional value.  

Facts on Kosher Rules and Slaughtering:

• Do not eat animals that die of natural causes or are killed by other animals.
  
• Do not eat animals with evidence of disease or flaws in the organs at the time of slaughter.
  
• The ritual of the slaughter is known as shechitah, and the person who performs the slaughter is called a shochet (meaning to destroy or kill).
  
• The method of slaughter is painless, causes unconsciousness within seconds, and is widely recognized as the most humane method of slaughter. 
  
• Another advantage of shechitah is that it ensures rapid, complete drainage of blood, which is necessary to render the meat kosher.
  

“Stick with the core of MY DIVA DIET and you will reap the rewards of a better body, better health, and a better attitude. You will also become a part of the effort toward improving our environment and discouraging mass production of animals for food, helping to alleviate animal cruelty.”

In fact the name of my company is Wild Cow Productions!